Recording of Mermaids training

Is this Barbie/Gi Joe/jellybaby spectrum thing supposed to be used to explain gender to young kids?

How will the not trans kids react to this?

It was interesting that the adults in training were discussing where they thought each other should be on the spectrum so wouldn't children would do the same?

Wouldn't a previously happy and content child start asking themselves questions if their peers say 'no you shouldn't be up there near Barbi, you like football and trains, you should be over that side near GI Joe'

How will the not trans kids react to this?
Surely most won't want to be an amorphous blob in the middle, so it's encouraging the majority of children to consciously play up to the pretty airhead /macho violent extremes

It gets more complex when you mix jellybabies with the gingerbread man.

I don't think the extremes will be that appealing to the majority of children / young people.

Is this Barbie/Gi Joe/jellybaby spectrum thing supposed to be used to explain gender to young kids?

How will the not trans kids react to this?
Surely most won't want to be an amorphous blob in the middle, so it's encouraging the majority of children to consciously play up to the pretty airhead /macho violent extremes. If they're being taught this at an impressionable age, how is that going to affect their development and subject choices?

Light is on a spectrum of frequency, FFS, not brightness.

And even though there is a continuum from red to green, it's best not to argue the point at the traffic lights.

Even if the dimmer switch bollocks had been correct, still doesn't apply to the sexes.

Dimmer switches still do off and on though. They just have a big range of on.

Wow that was hard to listen to.

So it'll start at off, and it will get gradually brighter and brighter and brighter and brighter until the light is completely on, because light is on a ... ?

The correct answer to shout out if anyone goes to training is "VARIABLE RESISITOR"

JackyHolyoake

“When you need that extra push over the cliff”😂😂

spectrum

noun
1.
a band of colours, as seen in a rainbow, produced by separation of the components of light by their different degrees of refraction according to wavelength.
2.
used to classify something in terms of its position on a scale between two extreme points.
"the left or the right of the political spectrum"

The training must have been approved by Mermaids Charity.
I wonder if the dimmer switch is always used & how many people by word association anser 'spectrum' when a trainer says "because light is a........ ?"

ChewyLouie

"So who turned the Mermaids trainer’s dumber switch all the way up?"

Spinal Tap turned it up to 11, if I recall correctly.

So who turned the Mermaids trainer’s dumber switch all the way up?

Light Spectrum:

Mermaids trainer, "Now I'm going to state the obvious here but work with me because I do have a point. Now we've got two light bulbs here and one is on and one is off, do we agree?"

Now, I am not an expert on electricity by any stretch of the imagination, but I know if I go into a dark room, I look for the switch and I will flick the switch and the lights will come on. If I flick it again the lights will go off. I know that much, yeah? So we've got boy/girl, on/off, yeah? Who can tell me what this is?

Audience: a dimmer switch

Mermaids trainer: It's a dimmer switch, and how does a dimmer switch work? I don't mean like transformers and circuits, just very basically, how does a dimmer switch work?

Answer: You turn it and the more you turn it up the brighter it is.

Mermaids trainer Exactly. So it'll start at off, and it will get gradually brighter and brighter and brighter and brighter until the light is completely on, because light is on a ... ?

Answer: Spectrum.

Mermaids trainer: Spectrum, absolutely."

A dimmer switch is used to vary the brightness of compatible dimmable bulbs, allowing a desired level of illumination to be achieved often with the purpose of creating mood lighting. Operated with a rotary adjuster, a dimmer light switch works by reducing power to the lighting source which can avoid harsh glares and beams. This can also help to prolong the life of the bulbs they are operating, which are run at lower power when the dimmer is set at a lesser ambience.

Apologies but this was bugging me: Physics GCSE memories!

It would be interesting to know who was involved with writing the training program delivered both to adults with responsibility for children and also the sessions delivered directly to children and young people.

Given the vulnerability of the children and young people concerned, one would expect to see the credentials of those with health, child psychologists, education & Safeguarding expertise etc.

On the same basis, as Mermaids provides a helpline staffed by volunteers for concerned children and their families / carers, the training for those taking the calls should be of a very high standard and adequately supervised. (as per Samaritans etc)

Eh? How is saying Nicola Adams is a good role model consistent with Mermaids' model?

She's completely awesome clearly, but wouldn't Mermaids have to say that she's really a trans boy or at least NB (but hasn't yet acknowledged it - blue brain in accidentally put in pink body)
?

Idontbuythejellybaby - I name-changed in tribute to the questioner and then got so pleased with myself I announced the name-change on the wrong thread.

Please tell me it was somewhere completely random like The Doghouse or Telly Addicts

From the audio I got the impression jelly babies does refer to those blobby people on the Barbie / GI Joe scale. I was wondering why they use GI Joe instead of Action Man. Maybe they're going for the US market in the long term?

Or maybe knocked Action Man from the 'jelly baby number 12' slot?

That she's lumped in with somebody who thinks it's acceptable to rent a womb and another who no doubt would love to buy one.

Does Nicola Adams know?

Yes it will need a critique/interpretation from a good critique...……..

But I feel I also need to point out to converts of TRA, those lacking critical thought/general common sense and to those who haven't got a clue about any of this whatsoever, why Jan's words are so dangerous. An interpretation if you like. A bullshit detector.

You can't rely on everyone 'getting it' (even though it should be glaringly obvious that sex isn't a spectrum, that safeguarding rules apply, that boys can't be girls...)

Still seething over two of the people who Jan uses as great role models: Tom Daly and Paris Lees!!!

Plus the talented female sports professional Nicola Adams who has been bundled in with that pair for some reason.

Sorry if I've missed this, but presumably once the transcript is out, Big Lottery, Children in Need, DfE, Penny Mordaunt, Andrew, Janice and James (and the world) will receive a copy?

I live in a city mentioned in the audio where they say there is a Mermaids group/camp/club/commune

I will be finding out more about this, who supports it locally, and sending them a copy (along with councillors, MP, media).

Fuck I love all you awesome strong women who post here! I am sooo glad I found this chat room. *Such fun.

*I think autocorrect is onto something more profound.
The Mermaids 'jelly baby sex-stereotypes continuum' is only about superficial presentation eg the far extreme (called Barbie) is described by the trainer as someone liking pink, sparkles, long blonde hair etc.

So why shouldn't a person who prefers such things be a 'Barrie' and be male?*
-----
You could be talking about the transgender Miss Universe contestant.

Mind you, if I'd had 19 - NINETEEN - surgeries, fat old me could win the fucking thing :(

Interesting. Thanks Vicky.